Chapter 112

DANI

“Papa.” Gaetano insisted on calling him Papa. It was awkward at first, but he was my second father, and he truly cared about me.

“You’re home?” He must have seen the background as we did a video call.

“Yes. We arrived early this morning.” I cried as I bid farewell to Lorenzo and Aysel. I let Dimitri and Aleksandr take a weekend vacation before following me here to Italy.

Milo quickly climbed up to my lap.

“You brought a cat?”

I laughed. “Yeah. I finally adopted him. His name is Milo.” I hold Milo’s paw as if waving at the camera. “Uncle Lorenzo and I went to see his late owner’s family, and they were happy for him to have a new owner.”

“What did Terzo say about that?” He looked thrilled.

“He’s jealous because Milo is clingy.”

“He always wanted to have a dog. When his dog died and his mother passed, he refused to get another pet. I think losing both of them in just months apart left a scar on him.” Gaetano smiled. He looked relaxed before the camera. “Don’t worry, he likes animals more than humans.”

“I heard that, Papa.” Terzo snorted, sitting next to me.

“Of course, he’s listening,” he said. “So, son, are you ready to be a father?”

I moved the laptop so he could see both of us in one frame.

“I am, but I’m terrified at the same time. You’re a good father, Papa. Any advice?”

“Do you know why you and your sister grew up just fine? Because your mother and I never fought in front of you. Of course, we argued, but we kept reminding each other why we were married, and it’s because of our love and commitment. When you can do that, you don’t have to worry about not being a good father to your children. There’s no perfect parent, son. Good is enough to raise a kid.”

“Hey, guys. What’s going in?” I entered Terzo’s office to find him in a heated argument with Magnus.

No one answered me, except Terzo just punched Magnus on the face, making me gasp. My hands were on my mouth. I wanted to come between them to mediate, but I was too shocked to move.

“I trusted you, and you broke it, Tucker! I welcomed you to my family. I gave you a second chance! Don’t they mean anything to you?”

“What the hell is going on?”

“You know sisters are off-limits, asshole. And you crossed that line.” Terzo pointed at Magnus, who wiped the blood dripping from his nose. “You won’t get out of Sicily alive. I guarantee you that!”

“Wait. What?” I finally found my voice, still shocked. Oh, now it made a lot of sense. Magnus always wanted to spend time with Celestina, and Celestina looked carefree and in love.

“You’re a selfish bastard, you know that?” Magnus spat the blood on the floor. “You think you know what she wants? You think you know how she feels about everything around her? You fucking don’t! Because you never sat with her and asked her.”

Oh, shit.

“She’s my sister! We don’t sleep with our friend’s sister, motherfucker! And you’re an employee!” Terzo was about to launch at Magnus again, but I found myself blocking him, hugging him.

“Stop! Both of you!” I pushed him away, but he barely moved. “Stop this nonsense right now!” I extended my arms between them. “You, Terzo, calm down.” I turned to Magnus. “You, stop provoking him.”

“You’re dead!”

“Stop!” I shot a glare at Terzo. “You both are acting like teenagers. These things happened all the time. I didn’t come here all the way from Istanbul to mediate two bad wolves. I came here to be with my family.” I pointed at Magnus. “And that includes you, Maggie. And of all people, you slept with his sister? I don’t blame you. Cee is beautiful and kind, but seriously, dude. Do you really have a death wish? Even in the States, you know bro codes, right? We don’t sleep with our friends’ siblings. That’s a no-no, but it already happened, and it’s not like you’re blood related or he forced himself into her.”

“Just stay away from this, Dani,” Terzo gritted his teeth. “This is between and this ungrateful worthless piece of shit.”

I turned to him. “Hey! She’s an adult. They are two consenting adults. If they want to fool around, that’s their choice, their body. Stay out of Cee’s personal life, Terzo. She made a choice, so respect it. As long as she knows what she’s doing and she’s not hurt, stay in your lane. Get me? And look at Cee. She’s never been this happy for a long time. Maybe they’re meant to be together.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“Oh, fuck you!” Terzo growled.

“Fuck you, too, Siciliano!” Magnus growled back. “If I wanted to sleep with Cee, I would have done that a long time ago. She was alone after her asshole husband hurt her. And I was there with her when you were busy roaming around the world playing superhero. She was struggling to navigate her life. She lost everything, her life, her purpose. She was alone! I was there for her, but not to sleep with her, but as a friend. I came here to tell you in person because I was trying to be a man, not to hurt your paper thin huge ego or insult you.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that you stuck your dick in my sister, asshole!”

I yelped, ducking. I held my breath the moment I heard a wham. Magnus returned the favor and punched my husband.

“Oh, my God! You punched him.” I stared at him in disbelief. “You don’t get to punch him, Maggie!”

When Terzo realized what Magnus just did, he turned his head in what seemed like slow motion. His features darkened, and violence and rage flickered in his eyes. His lips turned into a feral snarl.

“Oh, shit.” I held my breath when Terzo just slipped his hand into his jacket. “No! Enough! If any of you pull a gun or throw punches, I swear to God, I’m walking out of this compound. I can’t see any more violence in my lifetime. And I’m pregnant for fuck’s sake!”

“You’re pregnant?” Magnus’ face softened. He even smiled and came to hug me. “Congratulations, Dani.”

“Thank you.” I hugged him back while I watched my husband like a hawk.

“Don’t touch my wife!” Terzo’s voice boomed.

“Baby, you have to accept the fact that he’s family, and he can hug me.” I turned to Magnus. “Apologize, Maggie, or I will slap you for hitting him.”

“Maggie?” Terzo crunched his nose. He just realized it now. I’d been calling Magnus Maggie for months.

“Yes, baby. From now he’s Maggie to me.”

“Boss, I’m sorry.”

“Fuck you. Apology not accepted.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m outta here. You two can continue whatever you want to continue. I’ll call the ambulance after an hour.” I left them in the office.

I trusted Terzo not to kill Magnus. Deep inside, he cared a lot about him than he’d like to admit. Hurt? Definitely. He felt betrayed, but Magnus had not been with anyone since London.

Celestina may have once broken, but I had a strong feeling Magnus could help her heal.

At the dinner Terzo organized, Celestina shifted her gaze between her brother and Magnus, who shared the same bruise on their faces. Apparently, they came to their senses to end the feud between them before they got each other killed.

“What happened between you two?” Celestina asked. “Did you somehow bump each other?”

Magnus shrugged. “Something like that.”

Terzo’s jaw clenched, breathing through his nose before standing up. “I’d like to welcome my wife from her two-month travel. If my father were here right now, he would be celebrating with us, but he wanted me to relay his message. Every one of you here on this table is family, and we protect our own. And he cares and loves us. I can’t ever be like Papa, but what I can guarantee you is, no matter what mistakes you made or line you crossed, I will protect you and treat you as my own. Well, as long as you won’t betray me and your family. And I have good news.” He looked at me. “We’re having a baby.”

As I looked at their faces, it made my heart melt. I may have lost my family in that horrific incident, but I found one here, and they truly had a special place in my heart. One by one, they came to greet me and Terzo.

“I know you’ll stick around. I told you, Dani. It’s hard to let this family go. They grow on you like fungi.”

I laughed at Magnus. “You didn’t tell your fungi that you talked to him.”

“Maybe later,” he whispered before sitting back in his chair.

“I’m glad you’re back. This place was boring without you.” Marco hugged me from behind. “Congratulations, Dani.”

“Thank you.” Once Marco left, I whispered to Celestina, “Your brother knows.”

She quickly got what I was talking about. “Shit.”

Terzo stood up, offering his hand. “Let’s go down to the cellar, sweetheart.”